Balance of Payments (Japan and Germany)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the size of the total balance of payments surplus or deficit with Japan and Germany, respectively, during the most recent years for which figures are available: and what these figures would be if trade in oil was excluded.

[pursuant to the reply, 20 May 1985, c. 340]: I have been asked to reply.

Figures for the UK's full balance of payments with individual countries is not available. Visible trade figures are available but only on an "Overseas Trade Statistics" basis, that is imports including the costs of insurance and freight. Exports less imports on an OTS basis produce a "crude" balance. This is provided for total trade and for total trade excluding oil in the table.

Although invisible transactions are not normally compiled for individual countries some estimates of transactions with Japan were published in "British Business" of 27 April 1984 (page 766): a copy is available in the Library.